Jupiter at Opposition
Gigantic Jupiter reaches opposition on May 9th, making it the best night of the year to explore the gas giant planet and its four brightest moons Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Since Jupiter will be directly opposite the Sun from Earth, it will be visible all night long. Opposition occurs when a planet reaches its closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit. Take advantage of Jupiter’s brightest night of the year and take a closer look at its cloud band “stripes” and four Galilean moons.
Gigantic Jupiter reaches opposition on May 9th, making it the best night of the year to explore the gas giant planet and its four brightest moons Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Since Jupiter will be directly opposite the Sun from Earth, it will be visible all night long. Opposition occurs when a planet reaches its closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit. Take advantage of Jupiter’s brightest night of the year and take a closer look at its cloud band “stripes” and four Galilean moons.
Four Big Planetary Nebulae
See the “Ghost of Jupiter,” NGC 3242 in Hydra; M97, “the Owl Nebula” in the Big Dipper; NGC 4361 in Corvus, and the famous “Ring Nebula”, M57 in Lyra just a few degrees from bright star Vega.
See the “Ghost of Jupiter,” NGC 3242 in Hydra; M97, “the Owl Nebula” in the Big Dipper; NGC 4361 in Corvus, and the famous “Ring Nebula”, M57 in Lyra just a few degrees from bright star Vega.
New Moon, Dark Skies
Take advantage of the dark skies provided by the New Moon on May 15th to scope out the many star clusters, galaxies and other deep-sky gems on display.
Take advantage of the dark skies provided by the New Moon on May 15th to scope out the many star clusters, galaxies and other deep-sky gems on display.